Knock-down container



Sept. 24, 1935. R. l. BRAKE-Er AL 2,015,393

' KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER Filed Nov'. 17. m34 2 sheets-sheet 1v SePf--24 .1935 R. BRAKE ET A1. 2,015,393

KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER Filed Nov. 17. 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 j" ,fa

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Patented l-Sept.- 24, 193s UNTTED STATES PATENT A OFFICE Y KNOCK-N 0 CONTAINER Ronald I. Drake, Appleton, and William K.

Andrew, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors to Marathon Paper Mills Company, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Applieetien November 1r, 1934, serial No. '153,422

17 Claims.

The container of 'the present invention is preferably constructed inthe main of paper-board and of a size and shape adapted to provide for the shipment of ice cream in bulk, and the pres- 6 ent invention is directed to the means and method of constructing and erecting such a container, so thatthe same may b'e shipped flat in knock-down condition and afterwards erected and assembled into cylindrical form and suitably l0 reinforced with metallic edge' strips at the top and bottom to prevent collapse.

Further objects and details will appear from the description oi' the invention inA conjunction vwith the accompanying drawings, wherein,-

l Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the Fig. 4 isan enlarged d etail of one of the locking slots formed toreceive the locking ears on the metal rim;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 of Fig. 4 through the locking slot with the container wall in atwise condition;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing 'the position assumed by the edges of the slot when the conf tainer wall is bent to cylindrical formation;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the uppermetallic edge'A ring showing one of the locking ears;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view f the same, sectioned through one of the ears;

Figs 9 and 10 are detailsshowingthe manner of applying the locking ring and turning it to locking position;

Fig. 11 is a section through the upper wall and edge ring, showing the parts in locked position; Fig.- 12 is a section showing the lower edge ring and bottom construction;

Fig. 13 is a section of the lower edge ring; Fig. 14 is a view showing the parts in disassembled relation; and

Figt 15is a view illustrating the use of an inlterior mandrel for distending the walls of the container' to cylindrical position to receive the edge rings.

The container of the present invention consists of a tubular body 23 constructed of paper-board which is preferably .waxed or otherwise suitably treated to resist moisture. The vertical edges of the blank forming the tubular body are preferably overlapped and suitably glued -along'the side 2l which constitutes a lap joint, and during shipment the body is creased 'along the I old *.22 adjacent to the lap joint and along the opposite fold 23 to lie nat lin the condition shown in Fig. 3. The top and bottom edges of vthe body are provided with locking strips 24, which extend circumferentially of the body when dis- 5 tended and constitute the upper and lower rims thereof, and are formed either by overlapping outwardly `or otherwise attached by any suitable means.

Each of the locking strips has formed there- 10 in a plurality of locking slots 25 in spaced relation to one another, each locking slot having the 'coniiguration best shown in Fig. 4, to afford a straight base edge 26 which is opposed by an obliquely disposed cam edge-21, the respective 15 edges .at one end diverging to meet the vertically arched aperture 28 and converging at the opposite end to meet a locking aperture 29 which is of greater vertical width than the slot at the terminus of the cam edge 21 to afford a shoul- 20 der 30.

The point of juncture between the cam edge 21 and the edge of the arched aperture 2'8 aflords an angle 3|, and when the body of the container with the bent-over or otherwise attached 25 locking strips is distended to cylindrical form as in Fig. 6, the angle 3| being free from immediate attachment will spring outwardly away from contact with the body to afford a throated entrance 32 behind the strip for the entry oi a 30 locking dog Aear 33 formed on a metallic edge ring 34.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the dog ears are formed by cutting free the metal composing the dogears Aand offsetting the same to afford a shoulder 35, 35

which constitutes the base or attaching edge of the dog ear. The dog ears 33 are struck inwardly from the outer or convex surface of the ring, as shown in Fig. '1, and the shoulder 35 extends at an oblique angle of about 15 or less divergence 40 from the horizontal to afford a cam surface for coaction with the cam edge 21 of the locking strip. Each dog is -formed to alord a sloping or rounded leading edge 36 andan abrupt rear or 1oe1nng edge 3 1. 45 The inner edge of the locking ring is preferably folded to aiord a reinforcing bead 38, and the outer edge of the upper locking ring is overlapped to afford an edge ange 33 leaving a circular groove or channel 40 for the reception of the 50 upper edge of the body. The lower edge ring is in all respects similar to that last described, with the exceptonpf the fact that it stands in reversed relation to the upper ring, and .with the further exeeptien that the edge u, instead or being bent in 55 drive the ring to place by direct movement, so that furnish a groove, is extended inwardly at less than a right-angle to afford a ledge for the support of the bottom disk 42 which is preferably formed of relatively stiff paper-board of circular formation to fit snugly within the base of the body when distended to cylindrical formation.

In erecting the container, the body is distended from its folded or fiatwise condition and mounted upon a cylindrical mandrel 43 (see Fig. 15) which maintains it in cylindrical condition during the application of the upper and lower edge locking metallic rings. Locking is effected by slipping the ring into position to bring the dog ears into registry with the dome-shaped end apertures of the locking slots, and the dog ears being offset inwardly will lie snugly against the curving wall of the container and in position to slip into the throated spaces 32 immediately adjacent to the angles 3| of the respective slots. Although the dog ears are offset inwardly, no difficulty is experienced in the positioning of the rings, since the A paperboard of which the bodyof the container is constructed will yield or bulge inwardly to a sufcient extent near the margins to permit the dog ears to be registered with the apertures of the locking slots through which they will spring inwardly when in register in preparation for the final locking. With the parts thus registered the ring will be turned after the manner of a screw cap, which causes the dog ears to slip in behind the locking strip and causes the oblique shoulders 39, at the bases of the respective dog ears, to engage with and ride upon the cam edges 21, so that as the ring is turned it will be drawn downward and into snug engagement with the upper overlapping rim of the receptacle, which turning of the ring will continue until the shoulders 35 of' the dog ears clear the offsets orlshoulders 30 and bring the dog ears within the terminal apertures 29, after which retraction will be prevented by the engagement of the shoulders 30 with the dog ears. The lower ring is applied in precisely the same manner, after which the bottom disk is forced into place under sufficient pressure to afford a snug fit which is sufficiently tight to provide for the shipment of ice cream or like commodities.

The formation of the dog ears is such as to afford an angular face 36 which facilitates the entry of the dog ears into locking position while the abrupt vertical face 31 prevents retraction, so that after the rings are assembled there will be no danger of accidental displacement, since considerable force will be required to break the lock thus afforded.

The slopingjor, camvformation of the edge 21 in conjunction with the sloping shoulder 34 affords a screw action, which not only draws down the ring to locking relation but also serves to more snugly unite the ring with the edge of the body than would be feasible if it were attempted to after the rings are assembled the body will be stiffened sufficiently to retain its cylindrical formation and at the same time will be provided with suitable metallic edge rings at the top and bottom, which will protect the edges of the receptacle against abrasion.

The formation of the rings themselves with the turned-in edges affords the necessary stiffness and rigidity, so that the completed receptacle will be sufficiently resistant to lateral pressure to subserve the purpose intended.

The construction is one which may be so cheaply produced that the receptacles may be used for a single shipment and afterwards destroyed, and

in view of the fact that the receptacles are shipped in fiat knock-down condition, the cylindrical form of receptacle is preferred to the more conventional tub shape or flaring form, which possesses advantage only where nesting for ship- 5 ment or storage is required.

The present invention is one which permits of the receptacles being made of comparatively thin paper stock, even in the larger sizes, since the method of reinforcement employed is one which 10 affords the necessary rigidity for the construction of cans or receptacles having sufficient capacity for the shipment of several gallons of ice cream or the like.

Furthermore, the formation of the rings is such 15 that they may be readily applied in the erecting of the containers without the employment of special tools or appliances other than a cylindrical mandrel or suitable form, thereby enabling the user to readily assemble the required number of 20 receptacles for immediate use without the necessity for providing storage space for a large number of the erected receptacles at any one time.

Although the invention has been described with particularity, it is not the intentionto limit the 25 same to precisely the form shown and described since modifications or variations may be introduced without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is to provide a top and bottom stiffener that does not attach to the lower edge of the top or bottom fold, but to apertures in said fold. 'I'he apertures, being in said fold and not in the container wall proper, maintain a smooth solid inner wall, free from holes and other obstructions which cause trouble in removing the contents.

We claim:

1. 1n a container of the class described, the combination of a tubular body,a locking strip surrounding the end of the body and provided with 40 a plurality of spaced locking slots formed therein, each slot being enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiff metallic edge ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a vplurality of 45 offset dog ears adapted to enter the locking slots at the enlarged ends'thereof and adapted by a screwing motion of the ring to bring the dog ears into locking relation with the restricted portions of the slots.

2. In a container of the class described, the combination of a tubular body having folding lines formed therein and adapted to be-erected from a flatwise folded condition to a set-up condition having a circular cross-section, a locking 65 y strip surrounding the end of the body and provided with a plurality of spaced locking slotsformed therein, each slot being enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiff metallic edge ring of' dimensions 60 to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of offset dog ears adapted to enter the locking slots at the enlarged ends thereof and adapted by a screwing motion of the ring to bring the dog ears into locking relation with the 65 restricted portions of the slots.

3. In a container of the class described, the combination of a tubular body, an outwardly folded locking strip surrounding the end of the body and provided with a plurality of spaced lock- 70 ing slots formed therein, each slot being enlarged at the receiving end'and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiff metallic edge ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of offset dog ears adapted 75 ring to bring the dog ears into locking relation with the restricted portions of the slots.

4. In a container of the class described, the combination of a tubular body having folding lines formed therein and adapted to be erected from a iiatwise folded condition to a set up' condition having a circular cross-section, an outwardly folded locking strip surrounding the end of the body and ,provided with a plurality of spaced locking slots formed therein, each slot being enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiff metallic edge ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of oifset dog ears adapted to'enter the locking slots at the enlarged ends thereof and adapted by a screwing motion of the ring to bring the dog ears into locking relation with the restricted portions of the slots.

5. In a container of lthe class described, the combination of a body formed of fibrous material having a tubular configuration and adapted to be erected from a flat folded condition to a distended condition circular in crossisection, locking strips folded outwardly and backwardly from the upper and lower edges of the body respectively and each provided with a plurality of apertures, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with inwardly extending locking members adapted to engage and interlock with the apertures in the lock- `ing strips, and a bottom inserted into the base of the body.

6. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body vformed of brous material having a tubular conguration and adapted to be erected from a flat folded condition to a.

distended condition circular in cross-section', locking strips folded outwardly a/nd backwardly from the upper and lower edges of the body respectively and each provided-with a plurality of apertures enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the locking end, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with inwardly extending locking members adapted to engage and interlock with the apertures in the locking strips, and a bottom inserted into the base of the body.

7. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body formed of iibrous material having a tubular configuration and adapted to be erected from a iiat folded condition to a distended condition circular in cross-section, locking strips folded outwardly and backwardly from the upper and lower edges of the body respectively and each provided with a plurality of apertures enlarged at the receiving end and restricted tpward the opposite locking end and having a sloping intermediate cam edge, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with a plurality of offset locking members adapted to freely enter the enlarged ends of the apertures -and to be drawn by a circular motion into engagement with the cam edge and to finally engage with the restricted locking portions of the apertures. and a bottom inserted into the base of the body.

8. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body formed of fibrous material having a tubular configuration and adapted to be erected `from a .fiat folded condition to a distended condition circular in cross-section, locking strips folded outwardly and'backwardly from the upper and lower edges of the body respectively and each provided with a plurality of apertures enlarged at the receiving end and restricted towardV the opposite locking end and having a sloping intermediate cam edge, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with a plurality of oiset locking members adapted to freely enter the enlarged ends of the apertures and to be drawn by a circular motion into engagement with the cam edges 5 and to finally engage with the restricted locking portions of the apertures, the upper edge ringbeing hooked over the upper edge of the container to reinforce the same and the lower bottom ring having its lower edge extended inwardly to afford 1o a support for the bottom, and a bottom disk resting upon said support. v

9. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body formed of brous material having a tubular conguration, locking strips 15 y provided with a plurality of apertures, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with inwardly extending locking members adapted to 20 engage and interlock with the apertures in the locking strips, Aand a bottom inserted into the base of the body. 10. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body f ormed of fibrous material 25 having a tubular configuration, locking strips folded outwardly and backwardly from the upper and lower edges ofthe body respectively and each provided with a plurality of apertures enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the lock- 30 ing end, upper and lower metallic edge rings, each provided with inwardly extending locking members adapted to engage and interlock with the apertures in the locking strips, and a bottom inserted into the base of the body. n 35 11. In a container of the class described, the combination of a body formed of brous material having a tubular conguration, locking strips folded outwardly and backwardly from the upper and lower edges of the body respectively and each 40 provided with a plurality of apertures enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the opposite locking end and having a sloping intermediate cam edge, upper an'd lower metallic edge rings, each provided with a plurality of offset 45 locking members adapted to freely enter the enlarged ends of the apertures and to be drawn by a circular motion into engagement with the cam edge and to nally engage with the restricted locking portions of` the apertures, and a bottom 50 inserted into the base of the body.

12. In a, container of the class described, -the combination of a body formed of brous material having a tubular configuration, locking strips folded` outwardly and backwardly from the upper 55 and lower edges of the body respectively and each provided with a plurality of apertures enlarged at `the receiving end and restricted' toward the oppoafford a support for the bottom, and a bottom disk resting upon said support.

13. In a container of the class described, a curvingI body wall outwardly and backwardly folded at its edge to aiford a locking strip having acircumferentially converged aperture therein l5 merging at its wider entering end into a transverse enlargement, the aperture adjacent to said enlargement being provided with a sloping cam edge ending in an abruptly shouldered and enlarged terminal locking portion, and a metallic edge member provided with an offset dog ear struck fromsaid member at one end and connected therewith at the other end by an offset shoulder, the parts being so related as to permit the dog ear to be inserted through the transverse enlargement at the receiving end of the slot and to be moved into locking relation by a circumferential movement to bring the offset shoulder of the dog ear into camming relation to the cam edge of the slot and to ultimately carry the dog ear beyond the locking shoulder.

14. In a containerof the class described, a curving body wall outwardly and backwardly folded at its edge to aiford a locking strip having a circumferentially converged aperture therein merging at its wider entering end into a, transverse enlargement, the aperture adjacent to said enlargement being provided with a sloping cam edge ending in an abruptly shouldered and enlarged terminal locking portion, and a. metallic edge member provided with an oiset dog ear struck from said member at one end and connected therewith at the other end by an offset vshoulder having a slope corresponding to the slope of the cam edge, the parts being so related asv to permit the dog ear to be inserted through the transverse enlargement at the receiving end of the slot and to be moved into locking relation by a circumferential movement to bring the offset shoulder of the dog ear into camming relation to the cam edge of the slot and to ultimately carry the dog ear beyond the locking shoulder.

15. In a container of the class described, the combination of a tubular body having a locking strip surrounding the end of the body and secured thereto and provided with a plurality of spaced locking slots formed therein, the contiguous wall of the body being imperforate, each slot being enlarged at the receiving end and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiff metallic edge ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of offset dog ears adapted to enter the locking slots at the enlarged ends thereof and adapted by a screwing motion of the ring to bring the dog ears into locking relation with the restricted portions of the slots.

16. In a container of the class described, the l0 combination of a. tubular body having a locking strip surrounding the end of the body and secured thereto and provided with a plurality of spaced locking slots formed therein, the contiguous wall of the body being imperforate, each slot being enlarged at the receiving' end and restricted toward the locking end, and a stiiI metallic edge ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of locking members configured to enter the locking slots at the enlarged ends thereof and adapted by a screwing motion of the ring to be brought into locking relation with the restricted portions of the slots.

17. In a container ofthe class described, the combination of a tubular body having va continuous locking strip surrounding the end of the body and provided with a, plurality of spaced locking slots formed therein, each configured to provide a receiving end and a locking end, the contiguous wall of the body being imperforate, and a stiff metallic ring of dimensions to embrace the locking strip and provided with a plurality of locking members configured to enter the receiving ends of the locking slots and by a screwing motion of the ring to be brought into locking relation with the locking ends of the slots, said ring having its margin overlapped to provide an edge flange embracing and reinforcing the edge of the tubular body of the container.

' 40 RONALD I. DRAKE. WILLIAM K. ANDREW. 

